And thus, I ween, thus fhall I best repay A CANTO I. ARGU M E N T. The Knight, as to bРÆDîA's house And his vain pride difmays. I. Gentle KNIGHT there was, whofe noble deeds O'er Fairy Land by Fame were blazon'd round: For warlike enterprize, and fage areeds c Emong the chief alike was he renown'd; b Pædîa is a Greek word, fignifying Education. Areeds, counfels, Whence Whence with the marks of highest honours crown'd That port to which the wife are ever bound, There in domeftic virtue rich and great The lord, the judge, the father of the plain, From this fair union, not of fordid gain, But merit fimilar and mutual love, True fource of lineal virtue, fprung a train d Begirt with youthful bloom the parent tree, The facred olive; whence old Elis wove Parent tree, the facred olive.] This tree grew in the Altis, or facred grove of Olympick Jupiter at Olympia, having, as the Eleans pretended, been originally planted there by Hercules. It was esteemed facred, and from that were taken the Olympic crowns. See Paufanias. Eliac. and the Differtation on the Olympic games, Aer Her verdant crowns of peaceful victory, The guerdons of bold ftrength, and swift activity. So round their noble parents goodly rofe These generous fcyons: they with watchful care They by af Palmer fage inftructed were, Who from deep thought and ftudious fearch erewhile Had learnt to mend the heart, and till the human foil. V. For by cœleftial Wisdom whilom led Through all th' apartments of th' immortal mind, And how fenfation and reflection join'd Their various masks they play'd, and fed her penfive thought. • Guerdons, rewards. f Palmer, pilgrim. The Perfon bere fignified is Mr. Locke, characterized by his works. Sted, place, ftation. VI. Alfe VI. Alfe through the fields of Science had he stray'd His curious foul, he turn'd him to explore The facred writ of Faith; to learn, believe, adore. Thence foe profefs'd of Falfhood and Deceit; k Aye holding up before uncertain feet VIII. 1 Ne with thefe glorious gifts elate and vain Eternal glory Him therefore betide! Let every generous youth bis praise proclaim! Who, wand'ring through the world's rude foreft wide, By him hath been y-taught his courfe to frame To Virtue's fweet abodes, and heav'n-afpiring Fame! IX. For this the FAIRY KNIGHT with anxious thought, And now forth-pacing with his blooming heir, His little train before he flow did ride. m Him eke behind a gentle Squire enfues, With his young lord aye marching fide by fide, His counsellour and guard, in goodly thews, Who well had been brought up, and nurs'd by every Muse. Enfues, follows. A Thews, manners. XI. Thus |